Do you support the decision by the city to replace the red brick road behind the Colony House with asphalt?
- No. The brick is part of the city's historic fabric and the city should have gone before the Historic District Commission before any work was started. (77%, 115 Votes)
- Yes. The road was in need of replacement and the brick is not an important historic feature. (23%, 34 Votes)
Total Voters: 149
Loading ...NEWPORT, R.I. – The decision by city officials to replace the section of red brick roadway behind the Colony House has generated some frank discussions between neighbors. Over at KnowingNewport.com, and in our own comments section on the story, debate has been split between those who believe that the red brick lent itself to the historic aesthetic of the city, and those who are glad to see the bumps replaced with smooth riding asphalt.
Consider James Wermuth, who wrote on Knowing Newport, “There are those who think that Newport should be known as a watering hole for pub crawls and those who believe that our best and most secure future lies in tourism that honors the past. Cruise ships, busses, and cars bring visitors to Newport to see Belgian block Thames Street and the red brick road, not more asphalt like so many other towns,” he said, adding “I wager that the red brick road is as important as cleaning up the harbor and maintaining historic districts.”
Taking the counterpoint, Newport Now poster Mike weighed in with the following: “Good riddance! They were out of place to begin with…nothing else around there was paved in brick…why that one haphazard stretch. If they ever consider the bricks again, just do the stamped pavement….like the entrance to the Hotel Viking.”
What do you think? Should the city have kept the brick? Or was the paving long over due? Have your say above.
Newport, RI
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
The brick is important in the historic preservation of the city. The road needed to be repaired but the brick could have been laid again in a more modern way for a smoother ride. Did the City sell the old brick? I’m sure not! Another preservation association, architect or builder somewhere would have paid top dollar for beautiful old brick. Williamsburg, VA is a good example of preserving history and embracing tourists.
This is just another example of the city doing something on the cheap. As Karen said, the RIGHT thing to do would have been to repair the road and relay the brick – but I’m sure that was deemed too costly. You won’t see other “historic” towns – especially those that rely on tourism – in New England ripping out their historic features – they have much more stringent rules, I guess. And as someone who recently had to go before the HDC for their renovation, I find it incredibly hypocritical that the city would bypass what the rest of us have to adhere to to preserve the historic aspects of our town.
And as for the stamped brick…there are soooo many things I could say right now, but I’ll bite my tongue. But one word: TACKY.
Over a dozen years ago, as a member on the Board and President of The Hill Association, we approched the Historic District Commission and City Council asking to initiate legislation that would include all Streets and Sidewalks within the review of the Historic District Commission. We could not get any traction on this, at the time. There was no Historic Preservation Officer for the City and there was no will in the City Administration either. Mabye, the time has come, again, to beat this drum.
Road repairs affect the quality of life in the City. All City projects should improve, not detract from our historic districts, and should represent an understanding of the CLP which clearly delineates the priorities of the City. Recent work to two City parking lots–Easton’s Beach East Lot and Rogers High School parking lot– were done without considering environmental goals. The brick road was ripped up without considering the historic nature of Colony House and Washington Square. It is my understanding that there was no review of these projects by a panel of City department heads or City commissions. There seems to be a breakdown in communication between City departments, City commissions, the School Department, the City Council, and the general public. Paige Bronk, head of Planning and Zoning writes a monthly review of what is going on in his department. I have discused with him the need of a City newsletter…this could easily be generated on the website if all department heads wrote a summary of work accomplished and work to be done. If the City administration really wants public support and input, there needs to be more of a PR effort made so “surprises” don’t generate such a negative reaction from the public. Yes, please fix the parking lots and the streets, but do so with sensitivity to the priorities stated in our own Comprehensive land Use Plan and in consultation with all who will be affected by the projects.
Your points are well taken, Peter.
As egregious as the removal of the “historic look & feel” of the brick street was, I find the gas station there a much greater affront to the historic Newport all are working so hard to preserve.
I understand the gas station owner’s asking price is $2MM, the removal of which would allow Newport to re-create what was the original springs/water source of pre-colonial Newport.
What a wonderful re-created historic Newport centerpiece this would be, adjacent to the new Touro Synagogue Visitor Center, Washington Square and the Colony House.
Could this ever be done?
It is encouraging to witness such spirited and intelligent input over such egregious, bad judgement on the part of the public works department. A hole in the zoning ordinance allows the city to do what private citizens are not allowed to do. They are held to a different standard.
Recently the Fastnet Pub was encouraged to recognize its location next to one of the most historically important buildings in the country and to engage renovations with appropriate sensitivity. Obviously whoever appproved black asphalt to replace the brick had no such sensitivity.
I have to agree with JMS on all points. It really is refreshing for their to be such an open discourse on our civil
affairs. Perhaps Newport Now could arrange for live chats with our elected and appointed leaders. I recently participated in an online chat on the Projo website and I must say it was a very worthwhile experience.
Streets comprise a significant portion of our urban open space. They belong to everyone, very democratic. They deserve as much thoughtful consideration and protection as the architecture that defines them.
Even if the brick wasn’t technically historic, it acted to convey that quality and was important to harkening back to the past. You don’t have to look any further than Washington Square to see that. There, the city spent millions to install pavers to help restore and emphasize the historic nature of the area. Yet just around the corner, they rip up an entire brick roadway without any consideration for it’s importance to convey the history that is so entwined with that area of the city.
Queen Anne square isn’t historic, but it imparts a feeling of history to visitors as well as locals. The brick, regardless of its
age was important and the city didn’t do itself any favors in bypassing the HDC.